Nasa claims plot to oust Judiciary boss David Maraga

What you need to know:

  • Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ said the only institution Kenyans still have confidence in is the Judiciary.
  • On Wednesday, the ruling party protested at what it termed open bias against it by the Judiciary.

The National Super Alliance (Nasa) on Thursday accused the Jubilee government of plotting to remove Chief Justice David Maraga from office in a bid to weaken the Judiciary.

Referring to a letter written to the CJ by Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju dated February 9, opposition MPs led by Minority Leader John Mbadi said the increased personal attacks on judges and magistrates by Jubilee is worrying and must stop immediately in order to protect the independence of the Judiciary.

“Let them go directly to the point. We know they are targeting Maraga so that they have friendly people in the Judiciary,” Mr Mbadi, who led a group of 10 MPs in a press conference at Parliament Buildings, said.

“These attacks and threats are political and are aimed at making the Judiciary cower before the government.

"Judges and magistrates are therefore being used as collateral damage in political disputes and being turned into scapegoats for Jubilee’s legitimacy deficit and failures,” Mr Mbadi said.

INDEPENDENCE
The minority leader said contrary to Mr Tuju’s claims that the Judiciary was biased against the government, the opposition had also lost many cases in courts, but it had never ranted or threatened judges with unspecified consequences.

He said Nasa was not holding brief for any individual or particular judge, but was only protecting the independence of the Judiciary as an institution.

“Judiciary is the only institution that is still limping after the Executive successfully managed to control the legislature. The government is however determined to suffocate the Judiciary,” Mr Mbadi added.

Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ said the only institution Kenyans still have confidence in is the Judiciary, and that the opposition would not sit back and watch as the government waters down its independence.

“Jubilee is losing cases because they go to courts without facts, and they also don’t have competent lawyers. Judges and magistrates must be allowed to do their work without threats or intimidation,” Mr Kajwang’ said.

BIAS
The MPs accused Mr Tuju, who was recently nominated to the Cabinet, of being used by the government, and warned that he would one day regret his actions.

“Mr Tuju will one day need the independence of the Judiciary that he is now fighting to erode, and that time will be soon,” Mr Kajwang’ said.

On Wednesday, the ruling party protested at what it termed open bias against it by the Judiciary.

The party, through Mr Tuju, claimed that it had never received any attention from the Judiciary whenever it raised obvious cases of bias, while the opposition was never reprimanded for acting in contempt of court.

Mr Tuju said some actions by the Judiciary demonstrated clear evidence of bias, double standards, impunity and poor leadership.

He singled out Nasa leader Raila Odinga’s “swearing-in”, saying the courts had failed to act on a case lodged by the government seeking to block the event.